Eps 23: How do we know if reality is really real
— THE JOKE
The podcast explores the philosophical question of whether reality is truly real or just a simulation. It delves into theories from philosophers such as Descartes and explores the idea that our perceptions of reality may not be accurate. The podcast reminds us that we cannot prove that our reality is real and that we rely on our senses which can often deceive us. Ultimately, it asks the listener to question their own perception of reality and to consider the possibility that it may not be as concrete as we have always believed.
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Host
Max Cooper
Podcast Content
One of the main challenges in answering this question comes from the fact that our experience of reality is subjective. Each of us perceives the world through our own senses, and our perceptions can be influenced by a range of factors such as our mood, past experiences, and expectations. This raises the possibility that what we experience as reality is just a product of our own minds - an illusion or a dream.
Another challenge comes from the limitations of our perception. Our senses are only able to detect a narrow range of information about the world, and there are many things that are beyond our sensory capabilities. For example, we cannot see the full spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, or hear sounds that are too high or low in frequency. This means that there may be aspects of reality that we are not even aware of.
Despite these challenges, there are a number of approaches that have been taken to try and answer the question of whether reality is really real. One of the most famous is the philosophical approach, which has its roots in ancient Greek thought. Plato, for example, argued that there is a world of Forms or Ideas that exists beyond the physical world that we can perceive with our senses. According to this view, the physical world is just a shadow or a copy of the true reality.
Another famous philosophical approach is represented by René Descartes, who famously declared "Cogito, ergo sum" (I think, therefore I am). Descartes' argument was that even if everything around us is an illusion, there must be some thing that is doing the perceiving - the "I" that is thinking. This means that at the very least, our own existence is real.
In more recent times, scientists have also grappled with the question of whether reality is really real. One of the most famous thought experiments in this area is the "brain in a vat" scenario. This imagines a person whose brain is being fed electrical impulses by a computer, giving them the experience of living in a world that does not actually exist. This thought experiment raises the possibility that we could all be brains in vats, and that everything we experience is just a product of some external force.
Another scientific approach to the question of reality comes from quantum mechanics. This field of physics has shown that at the smallest scales of reality, things behave in ways that are very different from our everyday experience. Particles can exist in multiple places at once, or be entangled with one another across vast distances. This has led some scientists to suggest that the nature of reality itself may be more complex and mysterious than we originally thought.
So, can we ever really know if reality is really real? Ultimately, it may be impossible to say for sure. However, the fact that we are able to have this discussion at all suggests that there is something more to our existence than just a mere illusion. Whether reality is objectively real or not, the experience of being alive and conscious is a profound one, and one that we should treasure every moment we have.